A father in desperate need of money to pay for his dying son’s medical bills resorted to joining a criminal gang and ended up couriering £1m of illegal money destined for Iran. Serwan Mahmoud, 43, explained to the police that he had been unaware the money he was collecting from various locations across the UK was illegal. On June 10, as Mahmoud drove on the M4 near Cardiff, he was pulled over by officers from Gwent Police, who discovered large sums of cash in his car.
During a sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, it was revealed that police found hundreds of pounds in the car’s centre console, £76,000 in the boot, £18,000 in a bedroom, and £7,000 in a wardrobe at Mahmoud’s home address. Additionally, they seized electronic devices revealing discussions in a Whatsapp group where Mahmoud coordinated with other gang members about collecting illicit funds from different parts of the UK.
When questioned by the police, Mahmoud claimed he believed the money was legitimate and intended for Kurdistan, where there was no accessible banking system. He suggested that the funds had been gathered by families looking to send money back to Kurdistan. Mahmoud, who worked in a kebab shop and was receiving benefits, explained that he couldn’t afford his son’s cancer treatment, tragically, his son passed away at the age of six.
Amelia Pike, representing Mahmoud in court, argued that he had been in a vulnerable position and played a minor role as a courier for the gang. Pike highlighted that Mahmoud’s involvement was not sophisticated and cited his background of moving to the UK in 2003 to escape conflict in Iraq. She emphasized the significant impact of the loss of Mahmoud’s son on his mental health, leading his family to relocate from south Wales after his arrest.
Following the proceedings, Judge Tracey Lloyd Clarke sentenced Mahmoud, of Anstley Court in Derby, to four years and two months in prison for two counts of transferring criminal property. The judge rejected the notion that Mahmoud had a lesser role in the criminal activities, stating that his role as a courier was essential for the gang’s operations. Half of the sentence will be served behind bars.
The heartbreaking story of a father driven to desperate measures underscores the challenges faced by individuals grappling with exorbitant medical expenses, shedding light on the lengths some will go to in the pursuit of funds for their loved ones’ healthcare.